Commissioners approve ship berth permit needed for LNG project
COQUILLE, Ore. - It's out of their hands for now after the Coos County Board of Commissioners gave their final approval on the last condition needed to be met in order for the LNG facility to move forward on their end.
During their weekly meeting Wednesday, the board approved the Port of Coos Bay's application for a ship berth, which will accommodate LNG vessels.
While it's not part of the larger LNG application from Jordon Cove Energy, which they approved back in early December, it is an essential piece to the project.
"Since LNG is specifically a water-dependent resource, they need some place to bring ships in to offload the liquefied natural gas to their plant," said Coos County Commissioner Kevin Stufflebean.
While there was no public testimony at this meeting, Jodi McCaffree of Citizens Against LNG said they attended in silent protest.
But Stufflebean said approval of the ship berth does not mean it will solely be for the LNG project, but for other economic ventures as well.
"We have it tied into economic development for the future," said Stufflebean. "It really helps with the possibility of the container facility going into the North Spit too."
In the next 21 days, anyone can appeal the board's decision for the ship berth to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) in Salem.
In terms of Jordon Cove's application, KCBY contacted LUBA and they said that on Dec. 26, the Southern Oregon Pipeline Information Project Incorporated did file a notice of intent to appeal to them.
During their weekly meeting Wednesday, the board approved the Port of Coos Bay's application for a ship berth, which will accommodate LNG vessels.
While it's not part of the larger LNG application from Jordon Cove Energy, which they approved back in early December, it is an essential piece to the project.
"Since LNG is specifically a water-dependent resource, they need some place to bring ships in to offload the liquefied natural gas to their plant," said Coos County Commissioner Kevin Stufflebean.
While there was no public testimony at this meeting, Jodi McCaffree of Citizens Against LNG said they attended in silent protest.
But Stufflebean said approval of the ship berth does not mean it will solely be for the LNG project, but for other economic ventures as well.
"We have it tied into economic development for the future," said Stufflebean. "It really helps with the possibility of the container facility going into the North Spit too."
In the next 21 days, anyone can appeal the board's decision for the ship berth to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) in Salem.
In terms of Jordon Cove's application, KCBY contacted LUBA and they said that on Dec. 26, the Southern Oregon Pipeline Information Project Incorporated did file a notice of intent to appeal to them.
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